FBI Raids Target Organized Crime in Bay Area, Agents Appear in Belmont

Federal and state authorities are executing search and arrest warrants in the Bay Area this morning as part of an investigation into organized crime in the region, an FBI spokeswoman said.

Participating agencies include the FBI, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service and the California Department of Justice's Bureau of Gambling Control, FBI spokeswoman Julianne Sohn said.

She said she could not yet give additional details on the raids.

A Belmont resident said he saw about 20 FBI agents coming out from the side of an apartment complex at the top of Continentals Way at about 8:30 a.m. He said some were carrying boxes.

Police Lt. Pat Halleran said the Belmont Police Department wasn't part of the FBI's presence in Belmont this morning.

FBI spokeswoman Alicia Sensibaugh said she couldn't confirm whether the FBI agents in Belmont were linked to the Bay Area-wide investigation.

Other FBI activity happened this morning at the Oaks Card Club at 4097 San Pablo Ave. in Emeryville and at Artichoke Joe's at 659 Huntington Ave. in San Bruno.

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.